LEE CLARK believes Town will gain as much as they lose from the international call-ups for talented trio Alex Smithies, Scott Arfield and Graham Carey.

Highly-rated keeper Smithies is with England – although he’s available to play for Town against Bournemouth this weekend – versatile Arfield with Scotland and left-sided Celtic loan player Carey with the Republic of Ireland as the three nations gear up for crucial European Under 21 qualifying matches.

England face Portugal in Barcelos tomorrow and Lithuania at Colchester on Tuesday, Scotland’s showdowns are in Belarus and against Austria at Aberdeen and the Republic’s in Switzerland, then Turkey.

It means Arfield and Carey – both expected to play tomorrow night – are out of contention at the Galpharm on Saturday. Smithies will rejoin the England squad for the Lithuania clash.

That’s a blow for Clark as he plots a follow-up victory after the 3-1 win over Charlton when Arfield, normally a midfielder, shone at right-back.

But the boss, himself capped 11 times for England Under 21s, said: “International recognition is one of the highest honours in the game.

“Alex, Scott and Graham will be mixing with, and playing against, some of the best in the business, and that provides great experience.

“You look at the current England squad, and it seems to be one of the strongest we’ve ever had at this age level.

“Preparing for, and hopefully playing in games at that level will be beneficial for all three players, and it reflects well on Huddersfield Town that we have them involved.”

Close-season capture Arfield has already made 14 Under 21 appearances, as well as playing for Scotland B while at Falkirk.

It’s a first Under 21 call for Smithies, who excelled for England in the World Under 17 Cup in South Korea in 2007 and has also played at Under 16, 18 and 19 level.